Means for feeding articles in stacked relation



F. v. HARTI MEANS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES IN STACKED RELATION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6, I916. 1,352,744.

UNITED A PATENT OFFICE;

" FRED v. HART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, assrsnon, nY'MnsNnAssI eNME Nrs, T

UNITED snon MACHINERY-CORPORATION, or ra'rnnson, NEW JERSEY, A comm- To all iol z om may -concern:

narrow or NEW JERSEY.

MEANS ronrnnnins'en'rionns in STAQKEZD a nion;

Be it known that 'I, FRED V. HART, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain-new and 1159f fful Improvements in Means for Feeding Articles in StackedRelatiomand I do hereby declare the following to best full, clear,

- and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. r I i This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding articles successively from a stack. 'The invention is particularly adapted for '7 use in feeding pieces of material which are 7 such pieces in a stack and to discharge them successively from the end of the' stack. Thls wedge-shaped or tapering'in one ot their dimensions, so that-they are not uniform in thickness, In 'feeding'uniform articles or pieces of mater-ial, t is common to arrange mode of; operationis easily carriediout where each; p ece 1s of uniform thickness from one extremity to anothery sothat the pieces will;st acl in parallel positions'when mension, such-articles will not'stack prop- ;lerly'if'lying loosely one against another and in similaripositions. This fact prevents the feeding of such" articles from a-stack by means of the mechanismswhich are ordinarily used for-that purpose. A

. Theobjectof the present invention is to provide a mechanism by. which articles ta- I pering or wedgeshaped or otherwise irregu- .t delivered successively from the'end "l stack and all in the same position.

lar in one dimension may be stacked in proper relation toieach other, andfmay be of the 1T0 the foregoing end it is proposed, in accordance with the present invention, to employ a I construction or arrangement of parts such that, while-the articles which are to be. fedare, or may be in direct contact with each other at their thicker extremities, and may, in so far as such extremities are con erned, e supported 9, cOntrolled Applicationffiled October 16, Serial No. 125,952.

as a unit, the thinner extremitiesof the, ar-

ticles are supported and controlled .inde pendently-of each other,' being .soxs'paced apart astopreserve a-gene'ral parallel re.- latlon ofzthe articles inthe stack, instead of the fan-like arrangement which the articles tend to assume iflying upon each other present inventor, a feed-mechanism is disclosed which isadapted to operate in -accordance with the present invention, but in the form specifically ,disclosed, the said mechanism is adapted only for feeding. articles from the-lower end of a stack and the remainingarticles in the stack are advanced I by the actlonj ofgravity. A specific object of the present inventionislto.produce a mechanism .by whichthe method'herein disclosed maybe practised. wherever it is nec-.

'essaryto-feed articles from a stack in which the articles, must advance in any direction in which theeffect of gravitygcannot be. uti lized-for the purpose. .1 5.

For the purpose just'described, it is pro posed to employ Vmembers'or projections arranged in a series, spaced in accordance with thethickness of the thicker extremities, of the articles to be fed, these members being introduced; between the thinner extremities of the articles/,The thickerextremitiesof the articles, being-in engagement with each other, maybe advanced by anyordinary or.

suitable means-such as a follower, while the I thinner extremities are advanced by simultaneous movement of" the members by Jwhich theyqare' separated, iand-the entire stack may thus be advanced progressively,- asthe a'rtiQ cles are withdrawn oneb y'one from the end j of the stack,'while at the samegtime all of the articles "are retained in their proper stacked relation. p

The foregoing-and other objects and features of the invention are setforth more fully in .the following description'vof the illustrated embodiment of the invention; 7

In :the. accompanying drawings Figure '1' 1s a sld-e'elevation', p y in vertical-section,

of feed-mechanism embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan-view, partially in section ofthe feed-mechanism with certain parts removed,

Fig. 3 is a detail-yiew,'on a larger scale than the preceding figures, showing parts of the mechanism in a different operative positiOn from that shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the lines 4-t in'Fig. 3, looking from right to left H thicker: edges in engagement with each other. The means for separating and for advancing the thinner edgesS' ofthe pieces 7 are in the :form of two racks 10 and 12.

"Figs land 3.

The rack 10, which may be described as the feed-rackfis' double in form, having two' parallel members, and the rack 12,-which may be described as the retainer-rack, is located between the two members-of the feed-- rack. The two racks are arranged to move within a recessed basemember '14, which has sidewalls 16 which embrace the racks laterally and guide them in their longitudinal and vertical movements. The sidewalls 16 may. also contribute to the support of thepieces B, by engagement with their thinner lower edges 8 as shown in. Fig. l.

1 The teeth of the two racks are spaced apartv by a distance equal to the thickness of the edges on extremities 6 of the pieces B, and they enter between the thinner edges8, thus separating these edges so that the pieces may-be held in stacked relation with their centralhplanes' in parallelism as shown in I The edges S'are advanced, in' feeding the stack, by the action of the feed-rack 10-, which for this purpose is reciprocatedlongitudinally. As a convenient means for producing this movement ofthe feed-rack, it-is shown as'having a rear wardlysprojecting extremity 18 pivotally' connected with a crank-arm 20, that is' fixed on a vertical rock-shaft 22. This rock-shaft is provided with an arm 24 carrying a roller 26 which engages a cam 28. The cam is mounted on a shaft 30, whichis rotated by any suitable means, such as a pulley 32, by which. it may be connected with a'source of power. r The feed-rack is supported, from beneath,

by a spring 34"inclosed within the basemember 14, and in order topermit vertical -movement of the rack, it is connected with the crank-arm 20 by an elongated crank-pin 36 which projects loosely through a'hole in the member '18. v

At each rearward reciprocation of the feed-rack, the spring 34 yields so as to perniit the rack to be depressed as the rackteeth ride beneath the lower edges of the pieces B, and the amplitude'of theloil'gitudinal movement of the rack is. such as to cause each tooth to moveinto engagement With he piece next in the rear of that which it previously engaged. The feed-rack is next advanced by the cam-mechanism with the result that the lower edges 8' offall'of the pieces B are advanced through a space equal to the thickness of one of the thicker edges 6. 1

The retainer-rack 12 also supported yieldingly by the spring 3a,.loy reason of which it serves to urge the pieces upwardly into clamping engagement with an upper guide member 56 whereby said pieces are heldand maintained in stacked relation with their'thick ends in engagement. 'Longitudinal movement of this rack is prevented by engagement of its rear extremity with a'stud 3 38 which projects upwardly from the basememberl and projects loosely througha hole in the'retaine'r-rack," 'so as not to inter fere with vertical movement of the rack.

The retainer-rack 12 operates not only to also to prevent the lower edges of the pieces confine the pieces in stacked relation but B fromfollowing the rearward movement of the feed-rack 10. Dullhg lsuch movement,rthe'teeth of the retainer-rack remain in engagement with the edges 8, but during the advance or feeding movement of the feed-rack, the edges 8-r1deover the teeth of V the retainer-rack, which is thereby depressed, and at'theend of the'feedingmovement each tooth of the retainer-rack en-1 gages the piece nextv in the rearof that which it previouslyengaged.

The thicker edges 6 of the pieces are supported by engagement vith the upper guide 56 and are advanced by means of a fol lower 40, which engages the rearmostpiece in the stack. This follower slides'upon the base-member 14 *and it is provided with a tooth 4-2 which project sdownwardlyinto engagement with the/teeth of the racks. The follower'is accordingly fed forward by the racks in the same; manner and; at thevsame rate as the lower edges of the pieces B."

At the forward or delivery-end or the stack, the foremost piece B is supported and definitely located in position to be dis charged by spring-arms 44: projecting downwardly from the guide I nember 56, which constitutes theupper wall of the stack-- holclii S foremost piece maybe re:

moved from the staclcin any convenient manner, butg'forillustrative purposes, mechanism has been shown which comprises me n 0 s gtgi l l dl fi y i e igf an endless chain 46 which is supported, at

r the top by a sprocket-wheel 48 ifixed on a shafted The chain i6 carriesfeed-fingers 52 arranged at Suitable intervals; these fingers having hook-like extremities which are adapted to pass downwardly between the of the machineiin whiclrthepieceB is to .be'

utilized.

. The shaft 50isshown' diagrammatically as connected with, and driven from, the shaft 30,-Iby means of a sprocket chain 54, so that the shafts 30 and 50, and the" parts actuated thereby, may operate in suitably timed relationJ- r The feed-mechanism 1 above described I {is suitable for comparatively shortl pieces of adaptable, however, to the operation offeed lng elongated pieces or-strips, and it may be understood'that for "this purpose it is necessary only to provide a plurality of sets of racks arranged in parallel relation,to-

gether with a plurality of mechanisms for withdrawing the strips from the stacks; The several rack-mechanisms maybe driven from a single cam-mechanism, such as that illustrated, and for 'the purpose of connecting them for such common actuation, theshaft 22 may be provided with a crank-aIm-58, to whic'h is pivoted a transverse rod by which] 1 the other rack-mechanisms i 1 (not The mechanism herein described is positive 'in'its action, softhat it will'o'perate re liably', notwithstanding such slight 'va ria tions in the form and dimensions of the pieces B as maybe expected to occur in prac ti'ce. lVhile the invention hasbeen described as employed in connection with pieces of material which are wedge-shaped in crosssection, it willbe-Iunderstood1 that in its broader aspects, it is applicable generallyto' the feeding of articles which are approxi- 'mately 'uniform in'shape, but each of which has a comparatively thick extremity and a comparatively thin extremity, so thatit is not-capable ofbeing stacked in the ordinary manner like article's having extremities of equal thickness. j 'j' 1 The nature 'and'fscope of theinvention having been indicated and its 5 preferred embodiment specifically described, What is claimed as new, iszj e 1. Mechanism for feeding uniformly ta; pering articles, havingcombination, means-for supportingthe articles in a stack with their thicker extremities together;

1 theadvance of the} thinner extremities ing articles successively from the end of the stack; and means for advancing the thinner ually and positively; v 2 Mechanism for'feeding tapering artiextremities of the remaining articles individcles, having, in combination, means engag ing'opposite extremities of said articles for holding andmaintaining a stack of such articles -with their thicker: extremitiestogether;:means for withdrawing articles suc;-. i 'i cessively from the end of the stack; means; for controlling theadvancin'g"movement of the thicker extremities of the remaining a1: males as a unit, and-meansfor controll ng the remaining articles individually. p I 8. Feed-mechanism, having, in combina} tion, substantiallyparallel guides acting upon opposite edges of a series of tapering articles stackedwith theirthicker portions together for maintaining said articles in such relation one'of said guides being smooth and "engagmaterial such as heel-lifts. It is equally ingthe'thicker portionsof said articles, and the otherguide being provided with a series thinnerportions of the articles to space-them oflproj'ections adapted to enter. between the I I apart and means for advancingall of said 4. Feed-mechanism, having, in combination, means for holding a series oftapering articles in a stack-'with their thicker portions together i and confining; themagainst E -displacement;"meansj for advancing the thicker-portions'by engagement with the easier the stack; and means for separating the thinner portions and for advancing them by individual engagement therewith.

Fe'ecl-mechanism,'having, in combination, means for clampinga series of "tapering articles in a stack, with their thicker portions together;;a follower engaging the end of'the stack and movable to advance thefstackg and a seriesfof members inter posed between the thinner portions of the articles, to space them apart, said members be ing""movableiwith the articles in the di'-' rection of advancementof the stack. 1

6. Feed-mechanism, having, 111 combinat1o'n, n1eans for clampingaseries of tapering articles in a stack, with their thicker portions togetherfmeans interposed between thethinner portions'of the articles to space them apart; and means for advancing the stack as a whole. h a,

7. Feed-mechanism, hav ng, in COlIlblIiflQ- tion', clamping means for confining a series v of taperingarticles in asta'ck, with their thicker portions together means interposed between the thinner portions of the articles to sp e a e ai ear n f ith di'awing'articles singly from thexend. .of the stack. .8.,'Feed-mechanism for operating on a series of tapering articles stacked with'their thicker portions together comprising means acting on opposite ends of the stack for pressing the thicker portions of the articles together; means interposed betweenv the thinner portions of the articles, to hold said 10 portions apart and means for withdrawing };articles from the end of the stack. 1 V

-9. Feed-mechanism for operating on a series of tapering articles in stacked relation with their thic'kends in engagement, having, incombination, ,a rack extending longitu- 'dinally .of the stack and provided witha series of teeth which enter, between the .adj acent thin endsof the articles so as to separate and retain the ends; and means for longitudinally reciprocating; the rack to advance said thin endsintermittently. V V

10. Feed-mechanism, for operating on,

series of tapering articles in stacked relation with their thick ends in engagement,

: having,-in combination, two parallel racks with similarly inclined ,teeth. extending longitudinally of; the stack with said teeth interposed between adjacent-thin ends of the articles; means for reciprocating one '30 rack to advance said thin ends intermittently; and means for supporting'theother *rack movably so that its teeth may be withdrawnfrom between the thin ends ofthe articles during the advancing movement of I the stack.

.;.lll. Feed-mechanism, for operating on a series" of articles instackedy relation, having, in combination, a rack provided with teeth which enter between the edges of. adjacent 40 articles in the stack; means for reciprocatof the articles so as to space them apart and mechanism for vactuating said members in unison so as to move them both in the direction of feed of the stack and also trans-- v versely thereto, whereby each article is ad- 1 a vanced, in the direction of feed and is brought into engagement with said members in succession. v P

.13. Mechanism for feeding uniformly tapering articles having, in combination, means 7 for clamping a 'pluralityof said articles in face-to-face stacked relation with their thin ends spaced apart, means for feeding said stack of articles, and means for ejecting said articles from one end of the stack.

14. Mechanism for feeding tapering articles having, in combination, clamping means for confining a plurality of said articles in stacked relation with theirthick ends in engagement, and means acting collectively upon the thick ends of said articles and individually upon the thin ends thereof for feeding said articlesthrough said clamping means. v j

15. Mechanism for feeding uniformly tapering articles having, in combination, means actlngon opposite ends of' said articles for confining a pluralityyof' said articles in; stacked relation, with their thick ends in engagement, means for-spacing apart 0 the thin ends thereof, means including said spacing-means for feeding said articles, and means for ejecting said articles from one end of the stack. v v r I V r 16. Mechanism for feedingv uniformly tapering articles having, in combination, means for holding-alstack-of said articles with their thick ends in engagement, a. follower vengaging; one end of thestack, and reciprocating means engaging thethin ends of said articles and said-followerfor advancing said follower and said articles during eachof its movements in onedirection.

. '17. MIec-hanism; for feeding. uniformly tapering articles having, in combination, '95

means for clamping a stack of said articles by engagement. with their thickandthin ends, and meansindependent of said clampi ing means for. advancing the stack of articles., j r 1 18.Mechanism for feeding uniformly tapering articles having, in. combination, means for holding a, plurality of -said articles instacked relation withsthe central plane of one article bearing a fixed relation to the central planes ofthe contiguous articles, including means for"-grippingsaid articles in the planes of the tapers, and separate means for advancing the stack of articles; f 1

19; Mechanism for feeding tapering articleshaving, in combination, means for 'holdingsaid articles in stacked relation with their thick ends in engagement and positively feeding both the thick endsand thin ends tliereof,jmeans for engaging the for Ward end of thestack to definitely locate the foremost article, and meansfor ejecting the articles so located from one end of the stack; k I I 20. Mechanism for, feeding, uniformly tapering articles, having, in combination, means for clamping a plurality of said articles in stacked faee-to-face relation, means for 1 positively 1 feeding-said articles while maintainingsaid relation and means for ejecting-the successive; articles from one end of the stack.- I I f 21. Feed mechanism aving, in combination, means for holding a plurality of taper= ing articles in stacked face-to-face parallel relation and confining said articles against displacement, and means for positively feed-- ing said articles through said holding means While maintaining said mutual relationship.

22. Feed mechanism having, in combination, means acting on the opposite ends of a plurality of similarly disposed tapering articles for holding them in stacked face-toface parallel relation With their thickends in 10 engagement and their thin ends spaced apart and forconfining them against displacement, and means for feeding the stack with respect to said holding means, said feeding means acting upon the thick ends 01": the articles 15 collectively and upon the thin ends thereof ndividually.

FRED V. HART. 

